Streets Of Rage 1 2 and 3

[Xeogred]

Big fan of Streets of Rage 2 over here. I do recommend you play Bare Knuckle 3, however. The Streets of Rage 3 we got over here is different than what was released in Japan.

Huh, care to elaborate? Been a huge fan of SoR3 all my life and never knew about this.

I love SoR2 though and actually like how it's a bit less fluid. It also seems a bit longer with more recurring bosses and stuff which I dig in beat em' ups. SoR3 is probably my favorite, but it's harder to get to the extra stages and whatnot, so sometimes I just prefer the simplicity of the second and first games.

Streets of Rage Remake is one of the best indie games period. Take the greatest aspects of the entire trilogy and combine them into one ultimate experience. It feels like a completely legit real game and might even be my favorite now, there are so many paths and so much to it. Check it out if any of you haven't:
http://www.bombergames.net/

[Gamerforlife]

Bare Knuckle 3 is better than SOR 1,2, and 3

[brunoafh]

Big fan of Streets of Rage 2 over here. I do recommend you play Bare Knuckle 3, however. The Streets of Rage 3 we got over here is different than what was released in Japan.

Huh, care to elaborate? Been a huge fan of SoR3 all my life and never knew about this.

Version difference via Wiki:

Adaptation differences

When the game was adapted from Bare Knuckle 3, the original Japanese version, to Streets of Rage 3, significant changes were made. The clothing of the three returning heroes (Axel, Blaze, and Sammy) were altered from their original colors seen in previous Streets of Rage games, the female enemy characters wore less-revealing outfits, and a sub-boss named "Ash", a gay stereotype was removed from the English version (though he is still accessible in Streets of Rage 3 as a playable character via cheat code). The voice-effects were also changed, with most noticeably Axel's catchphrase of "Grand Upper" for his semi-special move being replaced with "Bare Knuckle".

Another notable difference between the two games is the plot: The Japanese version of the story opens with a new explosive substance called "Laxine", discovered by a character named Dr. Gilbert (who is revealed to be the true identity of Dr. Zan), which explodes in the city and kills thousands of people. At the same time, a military general named Ivan Petrov vanishes. It is later discovered that Mr. X orchestrated the general's disappearance and plans to use Laxine to start a global war.

In the English version, all references to Laxine were removed, General Petrov was replaced by the city's Chief of Police, and the plot now involves a scheme to switch major city officials with robot clones in order to take control of the city. Another difference was if the player failed to save the general, the player has to head to what appears to be the White House. This too was changed in the English adaptation, where instead if the player failed save the Chief, then the player has to head to City Hall, although the building depicting the City Hall is still clearly based on the White House. The bad ending sequence of Bare Knuckle 3 features a photo of a devastated city as text narrates the player's failure; this was removed in Streets of Rage 3 and text scrolls upward on a black background. The credits were removed from the bad ending of Streets of Rage 3 (possibly to show that it was not the true ending), whereas in Bare Knuckle 3 they still play.

The game's overall difficulty was also altered for the English version, with the game's Normal setting being significantly more difficult than even the Japanese version's Hard setting. Also, the English version of the game cannot be completed on the Easy setting (it will end after Stage 5).

Axel and Skate are noticeably absent from the European box art, while the new character Zan appears alongside Blaze. This is because the box art for the game was originally used as a magazine cover art that Sega of Europe brought later to be used.

Bare Knuckle 3 is better than SOR 1,2, and 3

I feel this way as well.

[Xeogred]

WTF, I think I know what I'm playing today.

Seriously I hate how you had to beef up the difficulty to get further into the game and continually do other things successfully (defuse the bombs, etc). Sounds like the Japanese version is filled with less of these issues.

A bit related but I've heard the Rushing Beat trilogy had some major changes as well when they were localized. I've only played Peace Keepers myself which was pretty decent, but yeah I'll have to check out the Japanese trilogy sometime. I know HCG had a really good article on them:
http://hardcoregaming101.net/rushingbea ... ngbeat.htm

[brainerdrainer]

One of the things I dislike about SOR2 is that you can't change the control format in the options. I hate using C and jump

[BogusMeatFactory]

Streets of Rage, Sega CD, on stereo with a subwoofer. It doesn't get better.

SOR 2 and 3 didn't really add anything to the game; if anything it took away from the game. SOR 2 could be beaten by a toddler (you shouldn't be able to beat a game on your first half-assed attempt), the music wasn't as good, and the characters moves are a bit delayed. It's almost the same game with the same story, but no where near as good.

SOR 3 is more of an ugly final fight knock off with terrible sound than a streets of rage game. But that only goes for the NTSC release.

For me, SOR is a lot like the Golden Axe series. The initial game nailed it, and the rest are over achieving sequels that fall very short of the mark.

Do SOR2 and SOR3 have multiple endings like SOR?

QFT when my brothers and I got a sega CD with the packed in collection of columns, Streets of Rage, golden axe and shinobi all with different sound...the music for SoR was sheer brilliance!

I agree that I don't really like the feel of the other two. They felt loose and weird....I don't really know how to explain it. I always saw SoR like Golden Axe and not like Final Fight. I really felt like the later games were struggling to be that type of game, imitating its style, mechanics and overall feel.

The other 2 aren't bad, but I prefer the first making my rankings.

1,2,3.

[TheRev]

2 is my favorite the music in all 3 though are what makes the series. Otherwise it's a boring run of the mill beat em up.

But with Yuzo's work they're the best beat em ups ever.

Then again, I replaced the music in Final Fight CD with Wu Tang and...

MAGIC HAPPENED!

[noiseredux]

Then again, I replaced the music in Final Fight CD with Wu Tang and...

MAGIC HAPPENED!

that mayor of Shaolin:

[Gamerforlife]

You guys are crazy calling SOR1 better than the rest. It's the weakest in the series by a country mile. Aside from the music, and that cool little cop car special, it's got NOTHING on the sequels. Well, okay Blaze looked better, but these are minor things. SOR2 had better graphics, a soundtrack nearly as good as the first, more characters, more moves, more megs(16 meg cartridge I believe), more EVERYTHING. Bare Knuckle 3 arguably improved on everything further, except the music, unless one likes the new style. If we focus on just the North American releases, SOR 2 is the best of the bunch.

So easy a toddler can beat it? Sure, if you burn through all your extra lives like any average joe gamer. Try beating SOR2 on one life, especially on the hardest setting (or go a step further and play the hidden "Mania" difficulty). Even on normal, it's a tough task to do once you get to stage 7 and the elevator section. If you can't one life an arcade style beat 'em up, you're not entitled to call it "too easy." Sure the majority of the game is pretty easy, and a lot of beat 'em ups will start whooping you from the very first stage, but SOR 2 starts putting up a respectable difficulty once you get to stage 6 and beyond. You can just burn through your lives for those last few stages, which is what most players will do, but you didn't REALLY beat it if you do. That's what all arcade style games are about, the one life run.

[Gamerforlife]

In fact, remove the amazing soundtrack from SOR1 and I'd rate ALL of the final fight games as better, especially 3